Hospital Decision Awaited

Shoshone County commissioners may decide today whether to ask voters if the East Shoshone Hospital District should be dissolved.

A petition calling for a vote on the dissolution garnered 683 signatures before it was filed. That’s about one out of six residents of the taxing district.

In accordance with Idaho law, the commissioners held a public hearing on the subject April 11, receiving testimony from a packed courtroom. Most of the speakers asked them to reject the election proposal and instead give the Silver Valley Medical Center, the district’s newly reopened hospital, a chance.

Commissioners originally hoped to announce their decision the next day. But on Monday they were still doggedly researching the issue. Commissioner Sherry Krulitz said they’d spent hours with the hospital’s administrator and chief financial officer, going over profit and loss statements.

“We just want to make sure we’re acting in the best interest of all the taxpayers in the district. We don’t want to regret the decision later,” Krulitz said.